Warde Manuel’s run as Michigan athletic director is ending, and it’s ending with the university trying to reset the way its athletic department operates.
University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso announced that Manuel will step down at the end of the calendar year, then move into a special advisor role. Manuel will stay in place through December 31 to help with the transition after leading the department since 2016.
The move follows the release of an internal investigation by Jenner & Block that examined the athletic department’s culture, oversight and administrative procedures. The review was commissioned late last year after former head football coach Sherrone Moore was terminated over an inappropriate relationship with an executive staff member.
Investigators said they interviewed nearly 300 people, including staff, coaches and student-athletes, and reviewed more than 20,000 internal documents. The summary report did not find systemic or widespread misconduct across the department, but it did identify serious structural problems.
Among the issues cited were weak accountability systems, slow administrative responses when allegations of employee wrongdoing surfaced, and hesitation from student-athletes and staff to report concerns because of fear of retaliation or doubts that the institution would follow through.
The review also described Manuel as someone with personal integrity and a strong commitment to student-athlete welfare. Even so, Grasso said the university needed a new leadership direction to carry out the reforms.
Manuel’s tenure in Ann Arbor stretched across a decade that brought both major wins and constant noise. A former Wolverine defensive tackle who played under Bo Schembechler from 1986 to 1989, he returned to Michigan in 2016 after previous stops leading athletics at Buffalo and Connecticut.
On the field, Michigan piled up success across its 29 varsity sports. The football program won a national championship, gymnastics and basketball each claimed national titles, and the department added dozens of Big Ten conference titles. The school also maintained strong financial and academic marks.
But the success came alongside a steady stream of public scrutiny. The department dealt with the NCAA sign-stealing investigation involving former staffer Connor Stalions, separate federal inquiries into former offensive staff members, and more recent coaching turnover, including the unexpected departure of head men's basketball coach Dusty May to the NBA shortly after he took over.
The Moore termination also pushed Michigan’s oversight practices back into the spotlight and helped trigger the broader administrative review.
Grasso said Manuel’s role in the transition will be important as the university works through the changes recommended in the report.
"I have the deepest respect for Warde and his countless contributions to Michigan," President Grasso stated. "I have asked him to stay on until the end of the calendar year to help guide these critical reforms and position our department for sustainable excellence."
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